Working closely with members of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and other pro-equality legislators, Equality California sponsors and supports pro-equality state legislation in Sacramento. Together, we’ve enacted the strongest statewide civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people in the nation. As of September 2022, the California Legislature has passed 185 bills and resolutions sponsored by Equality California to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice.
In 2017, Equality California opened a national policy office in Washington, DC, to represent LGBTQ+ Californians and our allies in the nation’s capital. We advocate for pro-equality legislation — including bills inspired by the legislation we’ve passed in Sacramento — and work hand-in-hand with California’s Congressional delegation.
This bill would require K-12 schools to make all curricula publicly available and to offer parents lists of all library books and the opportunity to review all instructional and classroom materials.
Status: Passed the House by a vote of 213-208 on March 24, 2023. Awaiting action in the Senate.
H.R. 734: Protection of Women and Girls in Sport Act [OPPOSE] – Rep. Gregory Steube [R-FL]
If enacted, this federal trans and intersex sports ban would effectively ban trans girls and women of all ages from participating on school sports teams and undermine the ability of intersex students to participate in sports.
Status: Passed the House by a vote of 219-203 on April 20, 2023. Awaiting action in the Senate.
H.R. 12: Women’s Health Protection Act [SUPPORT] — Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and S. 701 by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
WHPA writes the right to abortion into federal law and provides clear guidance to states and courts about the rights of medical providers to deliver abortion services free from medically unnecessary and burdensome restrictions (waiting periods, ultrasounds, hospital admitting privilege requirements).
H.Res. 219: Bill of Rights for Students and Parents [SUPPORT] – Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
The five-pillar Resolution is a blueprint for public education rooted in evidence-based practices that support teaching, learning, and family engagement, and affirms that all students should be able to learn in environments where they can be their full selves and free from all forms of discrimination.
H.R. 561 – Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act [SUPPORT] – Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and S. TBD by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
The EACH Act would restore abortion coverage who receive health care or insurance through the federal government by repealing the Hyde Amendment, and prohibit state or local governments from restricting coverage of abortion by private health insurance plans.
H.R. 698: Assault Weapons Ban [SUPPORT] – Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and S. 25 by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
This bill would prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, importation, or possession of a semiautomatic assault weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device.
U.S. Citizenship Act [SUPPORT] – by Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
This comprehensive immigration reform bill would provide an earned path to citizenship, address the root causes of migration, and reform the visa system and prohibit discrimination against LGTBQ+ people and families. It would make it easier for graduates of U.S. universities with advanced STEM degrees stay in the U.S. and improve access to green cards for low-wage workers.
Do No Harm Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. XX by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and S. XX by Senator Cory Booker [D-NJ]
The Do No Harm Act would clarify that the original intent of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) protects religious exercise but cannot be used to violate civil rights.
S. 365: Dream Act [SUPPORT] – Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Lindsey Graham [R-SC]
This bill would enable an estimated 750,000 Dreamers to earn lawful permanent residence and eventual U.S. citizenship.
H.Res. 160: Recognizing LGBTQ+ Black Americans During Black History Month [SUPPORT] – Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]
This resolution seeks to uplift the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, both past and present, as fearless trailblazers in American culture and society.
AB 5 (Zbur): Safe and Supportive Schools Program AB 5 will specify the timeline for implementation of LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for California teachers and school staff currently under development by the Department of Education. The bill will provide teachers and staff with the tools and training they need to support LGBTQ+ students and make California schools safer and more supportive for all students.
Status: Passed the Assembly by a vote of 64-4 on May 22.
AB 783 (Ting): All-Gender Restroom Compliance
Building on previous legislation that required single-user restrooms to be designated as all gender-restrooms, AB 783 will improve compliance with existing law by requiring cities to notify all applicants for a new or renewed business license that single-user restrooms in any business, place of public accommodation, or government agency must be identified as all-gender restrooms.
Status: Passed the Assembly by a vote of 64-9 in late April. Currently awaiting consideration by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.
AB 957 (Wilson): TGI Youth Empowerment Act AB 957 will update California law to clarify that affirming a child’s gender identity is in the best interests of the child for purposes of legal name change and child custody decisions. Family acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth is strongly associated with positive childhood development, mental and physical health, and overall wellbeing.
Status: Passed in the Assembly 51-13. Headed to the Senate.
AB 1432 (Carrillo): Insurance Coverage for Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care While states across country are taking steps to ban and even criminalize abortion and gender-affirming care, AB 1432 will close loopholes in existing law to ensure that health insurance policies provided to California residents by out-of-state employers with out-of-state insurance contracts include coverage for abortion and gender-affirming care.
Status: Passed the Assembly by a vote of 61-13 on May 18.
AB 1645 (Zbur): Protecting Access to Preventive Care In the wake of a Texas lawsuit targeting health insurance coverage for PrEP and other preventive services, AB 1645 will close loopholes and strengthen protections in existing law to ensure that California health insurers continue to provide free coverage for preventive services like PrEP and STI testing consistent with professional standards and best practices.
SB 339 (Wiener): Improving Pharmacist Delivered PrEP Building on previous legislation that authorized pharmacists to furnish PrEP without a doctor’s prescription, SB 339 will improve the ability of pharmacists to provide PrEP without a doctor’s prescription by increasing the amount of PrEP that pharmacists are authorized to provide and requiring health plans to reimburse pharmacists for providing PrEP.
Status: Passed the Senate by a vote of 40-0 on May 22.
SB 345 (Skinner): Safe Haven for Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care SB 36 will strengthen California’s “safe haven” laws by making it illegal for bail agents or bounty hunters to apprehend people who have left another state to avoid criminal prosecution related to abortion or gender-affirming care. The bill will also ensure that public benefits are not denied to people who need to flee to California to access abortion or gender-affirming care.
Status: Passed the Senate by a vote of 32-8 on May 31.
SB 407 (Wiener): LGBTQ+ Foster Youth Protections SB 407 will strengthen protections in existing law to ensure that LGBTQ+ foster youth in California are placed in homes that are affirming of LGBTQ+ identities. Youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are overrepresented in foster care, with multiple studies estimating about 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+.
Status: Passed the Senate by a vote of 30-9 on May 24.
SB 729 (Menjivar): Insurance Coverage for Fertility Care SB 729 will require health plans to provide coverage for fertility care, including treatment for infertility and in vitro fertilization, and ensure that LGBTQ+ people are not excluded from coverage. For the LGBTQ+ community, fertility care and family-building are just as important as they are for anyone.
Status: Passed the Senate by a vote of 30-3 on May 24.
SB 760 (Newman): All-Gender Restrooms For K-12 Students SB 760 is first-of-its-kind legislation to require all K-12 schools in California to provide at least one accessible all-gender restroom for students to use safely and comfortably during school hours. Survey data shows that 45% of LGBTQ+ and non-binary students actively avoid using gender-segregated school restrooms because it makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Status: Passed the Senate Education Committee with a 6-0 vote. Headed to the Senate floor.
SB 857 (Laird): LGBTQ+ Student Task Force SB 857 will require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene an advisory task force to identify statewide needs and make recommendations to create a safe and supportive learning environment for LGBTQ+ students. A safe and supportive school environment allows LGBTQ+ students to succeed academically and has a significant impact on their overall wellbeing.
Status: Passed the Senate by a vote of 35-0 on May 15.
AB 1041 will make access to job protected family caregiving and sick leave more equitable for all of California’s working families, including LGBTQ+ workers with chosen families.
Civil Liability for Abortions – AB 1666 (Bauer-Kahan) – Signed by Governor Newsom
AB 1666 protects Californians from civil liability on the basis of other states’ laws that impede abortion rights, which are contrary to the public policy of California. The bill took effect immediately upon signature.
Reproductive Health and Privacy – AB 2091 (Bonta) – Signed by Governor Newsom
AB 2091 will protect the private medical information of people in California when exercising their right to obtain an abortion.
Training for Pharmacists – AB 2194 (Ward) – Signed by Governor Newsom
AB 2194 will strengthen implementation of SB 159 (Wiener 2019) and reduce barriers to care for LGBTQ+ people by equipping pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to provide LGBTQ+ culturally competent services and care.
Minimizing Deadnaming in CCC Systems – AB 2315 (Arambula) – Signed by Governor Newsom
AB 2315 will require Community College Districts to implement processes by which students, staff, and faculty can declare and use an affirmed name and/or gender on academic records.
Youth Bill of Rights – AB 2417 (Ting) – Signed by Governor Newsom
AB 2417 will ensure that incarcerated youth – a disproportionate number of whom are LGBTQ+ – have easier access to information regarding their existing rights under state and federal law.
Death Certificates – AB 2436 (Bauer-Kahan) – Signed by Governor Newsom
AB 2436 will make parental fields on death certificates gender inclusive, which will help LGBTQ+ parents navigate estate proceedings and other matters following the death of a child.
Protecting Transgender Youth and Their Families – SB 107 (Wiener)* – Signed by Governor Newsom
SB 107 is a response to anti-trans laws of other states and will help to ensure that transgender youth and their families who come to California in pursuit of gender affirming care and an authentic life are protected in that endeavor.
Safer Streets for All Act – SB 357 (Wiener) – Signed by Governor Newsom
SB 357 repeals the law that criminalized loitering with the intent to engage in sex work, a law that has contributed to discrimination and profiling, particularly against Black women and people who are transgender.
TGI Inclusive Care Act – SB 923 (Wiener) – Signed by Governor Newsom
SB 923 will help to create a healthcare system that meets the needs of TGI people and will make it easier for TGI people to find life-saving gender-affirming services.
All Gender Restrooms – SB 1194 (Allen) – Signed by Governor Newsom
SB 1194 authorizes localities to require that new public restrooms be designed for all genders, as specified.
LGBTQ+ Education Budget Proposal (Low & LGBTQ Caucus) – Approved by the Legislature & Governor in AB 178 (Ting)
This appropriation will fund the creation of one position within the California Department of Education that will be dedicated full-time to the advancement of safe and supportive school climates for LGBTQ+ students.
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Audit (Wiener) – Approved by JLAC on June 27, 2022
This audit will examine CDPH’s collection, reporting, and utilization of sexual orientation and gender identity data as required by AB 959 (Chiu 2015) and SB 932 (Wiener 2020) to identify implementation challenges and best practices.
MPXV Funding (Wiener) – Approved by the Legislature & Governor
This appropriation ($41 million) bolsters state and local responses to the ongoing MPXV (monkeypox virus) health crisis and expands vaccination, testing, treatment, and outreach to impacted communities.”
The Equality Act would amend existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
Status: Passed by the House 224-206, but the Senate took no action.
Respect for Marriage Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8404 by Representative Jerrold Nadler [D-NY] and S. 8556 by Senator Dianne Feinstein [D-CA]
The Respect for Marriage Act would guarantee federal recognition of any married couple’s legal rights, benefits, and protections, even if they live in a state that outlaws same-sex marriage. It would also allow the Attorney General to bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court and allow someone who is harmed to sue.
Status: Signed into law by President Biden on December 13, 2022.
Dream and American Promise Act / Dream Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 6 by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and S.264 by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
This bill would enable an estimated 600,000 “Dreamers” to earn lawful permanent residence and U.S. citizenship. It also extends protections and a path to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries.
Status: Passed by the House 228-197. Efforts to moved DACA renewal during the lame duck session fell short. The Supreme Court seems likely to gut DACA in its upcoming term (United States v Texas).
National Origin-Based Anti-Discrimination for Nonimmigrants Act (NO BAN) Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1333 by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) and S. 1891 by Senator Chris Coons [D-DE]
The NO BAN Act seeks to limit presidential power and increase accountability under the Immigration and Nationality Act by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion and national origin whenever a president suspends the entry of individuals into the U.S.
Status: Passed by the House 218-208, but the Senate took no action.
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1620 by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and S.3623 by Senator Dianne Feinstein [D-CA]
Formal reauthorization of VAWA, a federal law to provide state funding and protections for victims of sexual and domestic violence, sex trafficking, and crimes against children and elders, is required every five years. The 2022 reauthorization includes new programs to combat sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, strengthen rape prevention, and embed nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+, rural and tribal survivors of domestic violence. It also funds legal services and support for trauma-informed law enforcement response and housing stability and economic security for victims. Efforts to include a gun control provision to close the “boyfriend loophole” altogether were unsuccessful.
Status: VAWA renewal through 2027 was signed into law as port of the FY2022 Omnibus spending bill.
Women’s Health Protection Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8296 by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) and S. 4132 by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
The slightly revised WHPA [formerly H.R. 3755] writes the right to abortion into federal law and provides clear guidance to states and courts about the rights of medical providers to deliver abortion services free from medically unnecessary and burdensome restrictions (waiting periods, ultrasounds, hospital admitting privilege requirements).
Status: In the wake of the Dobbs decision striking down Roe, Democrats slightly revised WHPA and again passed it 219-210, but the Senate took no action.
Ensuring Access to Abortion Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8297 by Representative Lizzie Fletcher [D-TX]
This bill would prohibit any government or private entity from restricting or impeding a person’s right to travel across state lines to obtain an abortion, as well as anyone assisting the pregnant person or any healthcare provider. It would empower the Attorney General to bring a civil action against any violator and create a private right of action for any person harmed to obtain injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees.
Status: Passed by the House 223-205, but the Senate took no action.
Global Respect Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 3485 by Representative David Cicilline [D-RI] and S. 2277 by Senators Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH]
The GRA would impose visa sanctions on foreign individuals who have committed gross human rights violations against LGBTQI+ people. It also contains data and reporting requirements.
Status: Passed by the House 227-206, but the Senate took no action.
LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 4176 by Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and S. 2287 by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
This bill would facilitate the collection of voluntary, self-disclosed demographic data on sexual orientation, gender and variations in sex characteristics (intersex traits) in all federal surveys.
Status: Passed by the House 220-201, but the Senate took no action.
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act [SUPPORT] – S. 2938 by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn [R-TX]
This compromise gun violence prevention bill requires lengthier background checks for buyers aged 18 to 21, provides federal funding for states to enact ‘red flag’ laws to seize guns temporarily from those deemed a threat to themselves and others, adds dating partners accused of domestic violence to gun purchase prohibitions, and federal criminal penalties to reduce straw purchasing and gun trafficking.
Status: Signed into law by President Biden on June 25, 2022.
Bipartisan Background Checks Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8 by Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) and S. 529 by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)
The gun violence prevention bill would expand background checks to be required on all firearm sales, closing the gun show and online sales loopholes.
Status: Passed by the House 227-203, but the Senate took no action.
Assault Weapons Ban [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1808 by Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) and S. 736 by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Status: Passed by the House 217-213, but the Senate took no action.
Do No Harm Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1378 by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and S. 2752 by Senator Cory Booker [D-NJ]
Status: Introduced in the House on March 28 and in the Senate on September 15, 2021.
Every Child Deserves a Family Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 3488 by Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) and S. 1848 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
The Every Child Deserves A Family Act would prohibit federally funded child welfare service providers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and religion; ban conversion therapy for foster youth, and require data collection on LGBTQ foster youth and parents. It also requires federally funded foster care services and staff training to be affirming of children’s complex social identities, incl religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate on May 26, 2021.
REPEAL (Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal) HIV Discrimination Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 6111 by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Lee’s rewritten bill (formerly H.R. 1305) would provide funding for states to reform their existing criminal and civil laws that target people living with HIV for behavior that is otherwise legal (such as consensual sex between adults) or that poses no measurable risk of HIV transmission.
Status: Introduced in the House on December 1, 2021.
PrEP Access and Coverage Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 6117 by Representative Adam Schiff [D-CA] and S. 3295 by Senator Tina Smith [D-MN]
This bill would require private health insurance plans to cover prescription drugs that prevent HIV, incl related screenings, diagnostic procedures, fees, and clinical follow-ups, without cost-sharing for the plan holder. Coverage requirements would also apply to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Insurers would be prohibited from imposing preauthorization requirement for coverage, and from denying, limiting, or qualifying coverage or increasing premiums for disability, long-term care, or life insurance policies for people on PrEP. Finally, it would require federal funding to uninsured/underinsured individuals access to prescription drugs and related services that prevent HIV.
Status: Introduced in the Senate on December 1, 2021 and the House on January 6, 2022.
Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 2234 by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and S. 1021 by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Status: Introduced in the Senate on March 25 and the House on March 26, 2021
U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1177 by Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and S. 348 by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Status: Introduced in the House on February 18 and in the Senate on February 22, 2021.
Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality (GLOBE) Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 3800 by Representative Dina Titus [D-NV] and S. 1996 by Senator Ed Markey [D-MA]
The GLOBE Act would protect and promote LGBTQI rights around the world by using existing sanctions to punish countries that abuse LGBTQI people, ensure U.S. foreign assistance and global health programs include LGBTQI people, decriminalize LGBTQI status in rule-of-law programs, ensure fair access to asylum and refugee programs for LGBTQI people who face persecution, direct the State Department to issue non-binary (X-markers) on US passports, and clarify that children born abroad by assisted reproductive technology, including surrogacy, to US citizen couples who are legally married.
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate on June 9, 2021.
Safe Schools Improvement Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 4402 by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and S. 2410 by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA)
SSIA would require schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying and harassment policies that ensure the safety and well-being of their students, including youth who are bullied or harassed on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Status: Introduced in the House on July 1 and in the Senate on July 21, 2022.
Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act [SUPPORT] H.R. 4011 by Representative Ayana Pressley [D-MA] and S. 2125 by Senator Chris Murphy [D-CT]
The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act prohibits the use of federal funds to support the hiring and placement of police officers on K-12 school campuses and provides funding for school districts that remove law enforcement and replace them with trained trauma-informed personnel.
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate on June 17, 2021.
Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act [SUPPORT]– H.R. 3312 by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and S. 1689 Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
This LGBTQ-inclusive bill would provide funding for high-quality, culturally competent sex education and improve access to care. It also eliminates the harmful “abstinence-only-until-marriage” Title V state grant program and redirects such funding to pay for the new grants.
Status: Introduced in the Senate on May 18 and the House on May 19, 2021.
Prohibition of Medicaid Funding for Conversion Therapy Act – [SUPPORT] H.R. 2328 by Representative Sean Patrick Maloney [D-NY]
The bill would prevent Medicaid funds from being used to pay for conversion “therapy” and crack down on misleading billing tactics, which have allowed taxpayer dollars to fund the discredited practice
Status: Introduced in the House on April 1, 2021.
Right to Contraception Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8373 by Representative Kathy Manning [D-NC]
The bill would create a statutory right for people to access birth control and protect a range of contraceptive methods, as well as ensure that healthcare providers have a right to provide contraception services to patients.
Status: Passed the House 228-195 with the support of only 8 Republicans on July 19, 2022, but the Senate took no action.
Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act [SUPPORT] – S. 4504 by Senator Cortez Masto [D-NV]
This bill would affirm that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for abortion services and would empower the Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict a woman’s right to cross state lines to receive legal reproductive care. The legislation would also protect health care providers in pro-choice states from prosecution and lawsuits for serving out-of-state individuals.
Status: Introduced in the Senate on July 12, 2022. An effort to pass the bill by unanimous consent was blocked by Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.)
My Body, My Data Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8111 by Representative Sara Jacobs [D-CA] and S. 4434 by Senators Mazie Hirono [D-HI] and Ron Wyden [D-OR]
This abortion-related bill limits the amount of personal reproductive health data collected by apps and websites could be used to target or arrest people if abortion is criminalized, incl menstruation, ovulation, and pregnancy tracking apps each month. It would create a new national standard to protect personal reproductive health data, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Status: Introduced in the Senate on June 16 and the House on June 23, 2022.
Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8190 by Representative Adam Schiff [D-CA]
This bill would amend and modernize the tax code to allow for LGBTQ individuals and couples to deduct medical expenses related to assisted reproduction treatments, IVF and surrogacy arrangements.
Status: Introduced in the House on June 22, 2022.
Health Equity and Accountability (HEAA) Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 7585 by Representative Robin Kelly [D-IL]
This LGBTQ-inclusive Tri-Caucus -led bill addresses social determinants of health by mitigating the effects of systemic racism, poverty, and discrimination by expanding access to affordable and quality health care for all, including underserved communities, undocumented children and families. It addresses maternal health, mental health crises, and gun violence and strengthens data collection.
Status: Introduced in the House on June 29, 2022.
Credit Reporting Accuracy After a Legal Name Change Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 8478 by Representative Ayana Pressley [D-MA]
Many transgender and nonbinary consumers encounter serious problems with their credit reports after a legal first name change. This bill would prohibit credit bureaus from disclosing former names in credit reports used by lenders, landlords, or hiring managers.
Status: Introduced in the House on July 22, 2022.
Commission on Equity and Reconciliation [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1596 by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) and S. 2188 by Senator Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]
This renamed bill would establish a commission to investigate the historic and ongoing impact of military discrimination on LGBTQ servicemembers and veterans.
Status: Introduced in the House on March 3 and in the Senate on June 23, 2021.
Securing the Rights our Veterans Earned (SERVE) Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 5170 by Representative Chris Pappas [D-NH]
The SERVE Act would ensure access to VA benefits and programs to many veterans whose discharge status unfairly prevents them from successfully them. Many veterans were given a status of “other than honorable” when discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, became pregnant while serving, or due to reasons associated with mental illness, including PTSD.
Status: Introduced in the House on August 12, 2022.
AB 218 will codify and streamline the process for transgender Californians to update their marriage certificates and the birth certificates of their children to accurately reflect their legal name and gender, while protecting their privacy. Accurate and affirming identity documents are critical to preventing discrimination when, for example, enrolling a child in school, applying for a loan, or making medical decisions on behalf of an incapacitated spouse.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom on October 6, 2021.
AB 245 will ensure that California’s public colleges and universities allow transgender and nonbinary former students to have their name and gender accuratenly reflected on their academic records, such as transcripts and diplomas. The bill also provides a standardized process for doing so. Students should not be ‘deadnamed’ – referred to by the name they were assigned at birth, rather than by their affirmed or chosen name – on their diplomas and other academic records that commemorate years of hard work and achievement. AB 245 builds upon AB 711 (Chiu), signed in 2019, which covered school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education.
AB 439 adds “nonbinary” as an option for gender identity on death certificates. Codifying inclusive gender identity options on death certificates brings these documents in line with California’s existing nonbinary options on driver’s licenses and birth certificates. AB 439 continues the critical work started by Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins years ago to authorize nonbinary identification on birth certificates, court documents, and driver’s licenses (SB 179 in 2017), and to ensure that California respects people’s gender identity even after death (AB 1577 in 2014).
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom on July 9, 2021.
AB 465 will ensure that professional fiduciaries are equipped to provide LGBTQ+ older adults and people with disabilities with supportive and respectful care by requiring LGBTQ+ cultural competency and sensitivity training during the education and licensing process. Private professional fiduciaries provide critical services to older adults and people with disabilities. They manage daily care, housing, and medical needs, and they offer financial management services ranging from basic bill payments to estate and investment management. LGBTQ+ older adults are a particularly vulnerable community and typically have fewer options for informal care and support. AB 465 will help to protect LGBTQ+ people as they age.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom on September 16, 2021.
SB 110 (Wiener) will expand access to contingency management (CM) programs. CM is a substance use disorder treatment that uses positive reinforcement to achieve behavioral change. CM has proven to be the most effective method of intervention for methamphetamine disorder. Because there is currently no form of medication-assisted treatment for methamphetamine use disorder, CM is a critical tool in addressing meth and other stimulant use. Meth use is a longstanding crisis in the LGBTQ+ community due to historical and ongoing stigma, shame, and marginalization. SB 110 is an important pillar in California’s response to this public health crisis.
Status: Vetoed by Governor Newsom on October 8, 2021.
SB 225 will delay specified medically unnecessary surgeries on children born with variations in their physical sex characteristics. This bill does not affect surgeries that are required to address an immediate risk of physical harm, and it does not remove parents or doctors from the medical decision-making process. The bill builds upon SCR 110 (Wiener), which in 2018 called on health professionals to foster the well-being and individuality of children born with variations in their physical sex characteristics and to heed international human rights guidelines and health authorities in the United States that caution against medically unnecessary surgical procedures that carry both a meaningful risk of harm and can be safely deferred.
Status: Withdrawn from consideration in Senate Committee on Business, Professions & Economic Development due to lack of support.
SB 258 includes older people with HIV as part of the population of “greatest social need” to ensure they have access to the programs and services administered by the California Department of Aging. With recent advancements in HIV treatment, people with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy can keep the virus suppressed and live long and healthy lives. For this reason, the number of older people living with HIV is increasing and over half of people living with HIV in California are now aged 50 years or older. Unfortunately, our current medical and social service systems are largely unprepared to address the unique needs of this population. Given the continued growth in the number of older people with HIV, it is imperative that California implement effective policies and programs to address their unique needs.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom on July 23, 2021.
Senate Bill 357 repeals California Penal Code Section 653.22, the law that criminalizes loitering for the intent to engage in sex work. SB 357 will also enable people who have been convicted of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution to seal their records. The law has contributed to discrimination on the basis of gender, race, class and perceived sex worker status – in particular, targeting Black women and members of the transgender community. By repealing § 653.22, Senate Bill 357 would protect vulnerable populations from discriminatory enforcement.
Status: Passed by the Senate 26-9. Awaiting transmission to Governor Newsom for consideration.
SB 379 ensures that University of California Health System (UC Health) contracts with healthcare facilities that allow UC staff practicing in those facilities to provide a full range of healthcare services, including reproductive and gender-affirming care. The University of California — like the State of California — has been a leader in protecting comprehensive reproductive and LGBTQ-inclusive care. But UC Health has entered into contracts with healthcare facilities that subject its providers to dangerous restrictions on comprehensive reproductive and LGBTQ-inclusive care. These types of harmful, non-clinical restrictions on care disproportionately impact patients of color and patients with low incomes, who already face tremendous barriers in our healthcare system.
Status: Passed by Senate Education Committee 5-2. Passed by Senate Health Committee 9-2. Converted to a 2-year bill, eligible for consideration in January 2022.
This budget proposal requests funds to promote the creation of an online training on school site and community resources for the support of LGBTQ+ pupils and strategies to increase support for LGBTQ+ pupils and thereby improve overall school climate. The training will be designed for use by teachers and other certificated employees in schools operated by a school district or county office of education and charter schools. This funding would continue California’s leadership in supporting safe and supportive school environments for LGBTQ+ youth.
Status: Included in final budget passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Newsom.
Co-sponsored by nearly every member of California’s Congressional delegation, the Equality Act would provide federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ people across the country. Specifically, the Equality Act will amend existing federal civil rights laws — including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Jury Selection and Services Act — to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill would also amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex.
Status: Passed by the House 224-206 on February 25, 2021 with bipartisan support, Awaits action in the Senate.
This immigration bill would enable U.S.-raised immigrant youth known as “Dreamers” to earn lawful permanent residence and American citizenship. In addition to Dreamers, the Dream and Promise Act also includes protections and a path to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries.
Status: Passed by the House 228-197 on March 18, 2021. Awaits action in the Senate.
Status: Passed by the House 218-208. Awaits action in the Senate.
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1620 by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and S. S. 3623 by Senator Dianne Feinstein [D-CA], Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) and Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Formal reauthorization of VAWA, a federal law to provide state funding and protections for victims of sexual and domestic violence, sex trafficking, and crimes against children and elders, is required every five years. Provisions of the bipartisan 2022 reauthorization would promote housing stability and economic security for victims, and establish new programs to combat sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, strengthen rape prevention, and embed nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+, rural and tribal survivors of domestic violence. It would also fund legal services and support for trauma-informed law enforcement responses, including training for sexual assault forensic examiners. Efforts to include a gun control provision to close the “boyfriend loophole” were unsuccessful.
Status: Passed by the House 244–172 on March 17, 2021. Awaits action in the Senate.
Women’s Health Protection Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 3755 by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) and S.1975 by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
WHPA writes the right to abortion into federal law and provides clear guidance to states and courts about the rights of medical providers’ ability to deliver abortion services free from medically unnecessary and onerous restrictions, such as needless waiting periods, burdensome admitting privilege requirements for providers, or unnecessary medical procedures, like ultrasounds.
Status: Passed by the House 218 – 211 on September 24, 2021. Awaits action in the Senate.
Global Respect Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 3485 by Representative David Cicilline [D-RI] and S. 2277 by Senators Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] and Lisa Murkowski [R-AK]
This bipartisan bill would, among other provisions, require the annual State Department Report on Human Rights to include a section on LGBTI international human rights, and annually report to Congress on the law’s effectiveness. It would require the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor to track violence, criminalization and restrictions on freedoms in foreign countries based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Status: Passed the House 227 – 206 on February 9, 2022. Awaiting action in the Senate.
Status: Passed by the House 227-203. Awaits action in the Senate.
The Do No Harm Act would clarify that the original intent of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was to protect religious exercise, which cannot be used to violate civil rights by using the justification of religious exemptions.
Status: Introduced in the House on March 28, 2021 and in the Senate on September 15, 2021.
The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 3488 by Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL), Angie Craig (D-MN) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) and S. 1848 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
The Every Child Deserves A Family Act would prohibit federally funded child welfare service providers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and religion, thereby increasing the number of foster and adoptive homes available and providing services to LGBTQ+ and religious minority children. It would ban conversion therapy for foster youth and require data collection on LGBTQ foster youth and parents. It also requires federally funded foster care services and staff training to be affirming of the complex social identities of children in foster care, including their race, color, national origin, ability, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, as currently required for runaway and homeless youth.
REPEAL Act (Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal) HIV Discrimination [SUPPORT] – H.R. 6111 by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Lee’s rewritten bill (formerly H.R. 1305) addresses the serious problem of discrimination in the use of criminal and civil laws against people who test positive for HIV. It would create incentives and support for states to reform their existing policies that use the criminal law to target people living with HIV for felony charges and severe punishment for behavior that is otherwise legal (such as consensual sex between adults) or that poses no measurable risk of HIV transmission.
Status: Introduced in the House on December 1, 2021
The EACH Woman Act would restore abortion coverage to women who receive health care or insurance through the federal government by repealing the Hyde Amendment, and prohibit state or local governments from restricting coverage of abortion by private health insurance plans.
Status: Introduced in the House on October 19, 2021 and in the Senate on March 25, 2021.
Strongly supported by President Biden, this comprehensive immigration reform bill would provide an earned path to citizenship, address the root causes of migration and responsibly manage the southern border, and to reform the immigrant visa system. Under this proposal, discrimination against LGTBQ families and other categories of non-immigrants would be ended. The proposal would make it easier for graduates of U.S. universities with advanced STEM degrees stay in the U.S., improve access to green cards for workers in lower-wage sectors, and eliminate other hurdles for employment-based green cards. Finally, it would create a pilot program to stimulate regional economic development, give DHS the authority to adjust green cards based on macroeconomic conditions, and incentivize higher wages for non-immigrant, high-skilled visa holders.
Status: Introduced in both chambers on June 9, 2021
International Human Rights Defense Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1201 by Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and S. 424 by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)
This proposal would direct the U.S. Department of State to create a permanent ‘Special Envoy on the Human Rights of LGBTI People’ position to coordinate all federal programs for the defense of human rights for the LGBTQ community internationally and to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against LGBTQ people around the world.
Status: Introduced on February 24, 2021 in the Senate and April 2, 2021 in the House.
Status: Introduced in the House on July 1, 2021 and in the Senate on July 21, 2022.
LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 4176 by Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and S. 2287 by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
This proposal would require all federal population surveys to collect voluntary, self-disclosed information on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Status: Introduced in the Senate on June 24 and in the House on June 25, 2021.
Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 3312 by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and S. 1689 Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
This LGBTQ-inclusive bill would increase access to comprehensive sex education and sexual health services for young people, especially marginalized young people who face the most barriers to care by creating grants to provide high-quality, culturally competent sex education and improve access to care. It also eliminates the harmful “abstinence-only-until-marriage” Title V state grant program and redirects such funding to pay for the new grants.
Status: Introduced in the House on May 19, 2021 and in the Senate on May 18, 2021.
Commission on LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans Act [SUPPORT] – H.R. 1596 by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) and S. 2188 by Senator Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]
This bill would establish a commission to investigate the historic and ongoing impacts – stigma, criminalization, and ongoing exclusion and inequity – of discriminatory military policies and practices on LGBTQ servicemembers and veterans. Approximately 114,000 servicemembers were discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation between World War II and 2011.
Equality California will prioritize support of 14 bills and 2 proposed constitutional amendments focused on advancing racial justice that are currently pending in the California Legislature. Click HERE to view the package of racial justice bills and proposed constitutional amendments Equality California is supporting.
SB 932 will mandate the collection and reporting of sexual orientation and gender identity data for all COVID-19 patients in the State of California. The bill was introduced in early May 2020 in response to the state’s failure to collect data about the crisis’s impacts on the LGBTQ+ community — depriving both the government and LGBTQ+ community leaders of invaluable information needed to protect LGBTQ+ Californians. Because rates of respiratory issues (from smoking), HIV/AIDS, cancer, and homelessness are higher in the LGBTQ community, LGBTQ+ people are likely experiencing greater health impacts from COVID-19. Additionally, LGBTQ+ people are more likely to work in the service industry and in front-line jobs. SB 932 will allow healthcare providers and public health officials to understand rates of COVID-19 in the LGTBQ+ community, and help LGBTQ+ people get the resources and support they need. The bill is co-authored by all members of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, as well as Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco). Equality California is the co-sponsor.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 26, 2020.
SB 145 will address the state’s discriminatory practice of treating LGBTQ+ young people differently than their non-LGBTQ+ peers when engaging in voluntary sexual activity. Currently, for example, if an 18-year-old boy has voluntary sex with his 17-year-old girlfriend, he isn’t automatically required to register as a sex offender. But if an 18-year-old boy has voluntary sex with his 17-year-old boyfriend or an 18-year-old girl has voluntary sex with her 17-year-old girlfriend, they’re automatically required to register as sex offenders, no matter the circumstances. SB 145 only applies when a teenager age 14 or older has consensual sex with a partner who is within 10 years of age. Equality California is cosponsoring SB 145 along with Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 11, 2020.
SB 132 addresses a very real problem facing incarcerated transgender individuals, namely, transgender people being housed according to their birth-assigned gender, not their gender identity or perception of safety, resulting in significant risk of violence. Transgender women housed in male facilities face particular risk of rape and assault. SB 132 will change state law to require incarcerated transgender people in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation be classified and housed based on their gender identity, unless the incarcerated person’s evaluation of their own safety is that another housing placement is safest. SB 132 also requires that the preferred first name, gender pronoun and honorific of the incarcerated individual be used by facility staff in all written and verbal communications. By housing incarcerated transgender people based on their gender identity or perception of health and safety, transgender people will be housed in institutions that decrease their likelihood of experiencing targeting and violence, and they will have access to the programming and work opportunities that will best promote and support their health and safety.
SB 741 will update the law to allow transgender Californians to update their marriage certificates and the birth certificates of their children to accurately reflect their legal name and gender, while still protecting their privacy. Current state law allows transgender people to petition courts to change their legal name and gender to conform with their gender identity. The law then allows such a person’s old birth certificate to be sealed and a new one issued as an original to protect the person’s privacy and respect their identity. This legislation would simply align the process for updating transgender people’s marriage certificates and the birth certificates of their children with the process for updating their own birth certificate. This will help to prevent discrimination when a transgender person enrolls their child in school, applies for a loan or seeks to make medical decisions on behalf of an incapacitated spouse.
Status: Vetoed by Governor Newsom on September 29, 2020, due to an inadvertent drafting error that did not allow sufficient time for implementation. Gov. Newsom supports the policy goal and will work with Equality California to pass this legislation in 2021.
The Equal Insurance HIV Act would stop insurance companies from denying life and disability income insurance coverage based solely on a customer’s HIV status. The bill would enact anti-discrimination protections in life and disability income insurance products for those living with HIV by banning HIV discrimination to ensure they have equal access to the coverage they deserve. Today, with the access to health care, advancement in HIV testing, and more effective treatment, a person who is HIV positive and undergoes and remains on treatment can live a long healthy life. HIV status is treated by medical professionals like any other treatable chronic condition. But California’s outdated insurance laws haven’t been updated. This bill would help to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, a key step toward ending the HIV epidemic.
SB 201 will protect the rights of intersex Californians — “intersex” being a term used for people born with variations in their sex characteristics — by ensuring they can provide informed consent before medically unnecessary, often irreversible and potentially harmful procedures are performed on them. SB 201, at its core, is about giving people born with variations in their sex characteristics autonomy over their own bodies. The bill does not prohibit treatment or surgery when it is medically necessary; it will simply delay elective surgeries often performed on babies in an attempt to “normalize” their bodies until they have the ability to make their own informed decision. Equality California is cosponsoring SB 201 along with interACT and the ACLU of California.
Status: Failed passage in the Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development 2-4.
Co-sponsored by nearly every member of California’s Congressional delegation, the Equality Act will provide federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ people across the country. Specifically, the Equality Act will amend existing federal civil rights laws — including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Jury Selection and Services Act — to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill will also amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex.
Status: Passed by the House 236-173 with bipartisan support. Awaiting consideration by the Senate.
Co-sponsored by nearly every member of California’s Congressional delegation, the DREAM and American Promise Act of 2019 will give immigrants who arrived in the United States before their 18th birthday and before Dec 31, 2016, an opportunity to apply for permanent legal status if they meet certain requirements. The legislation will also provide relief for recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. The Trump-Pence Administration has sought to cancel and restrict these programs, putting millions of LGBTQ immigrants across California and the United States — immigrants who attend school here, work here and pay taxes here — at risk. Of the 200,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in the State of California, Equality California estimates that as many as 20,000 identify as LGBTQ.
Status: Passed by the House 237-187 with bipartisan support. Awaiting consideration by the Senate.
The DREAM Act of 2019 will give immigrants who arrived in the United States before their 18th birthday and before Dec. 31, 2016, an opportunity to apply for permanent legal status if they meet certain requirements. Of the 200,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in the State of California, Equality California estimates that as many as 20,000 identify as LGBTQ.
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
More than 440,000 children are in the foster care system, of whom one in five identify as LGBTQ. LGBTQ foster youth suffer worse outcomes in care, including longer stays in residential care rather than with families, greater rates of multiple placements, criminal justice involvement, hospitalization for emotional reasons, and being trafficked. This proposal would prohibit federally funded child welfare service providers from discriminating against children, families, and individuals based on religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity; ban conversion therapy for foster youth; require data collection on LGBTQ foster youth and parents; and require federally funded child welfare to be affirming of foster children’s complex social identities, including their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate.
The so-called gay and trans “panic” defense is a legal strategy which asks a jury to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant’s violent reaction, including murder. It is not a free-standing defense to criminal liability, but rather a legal tactic which is used to bolster other defenses. When the defense is employed, the perpetrator claims that their victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity not only explains – but excuses – their loss of self-control and subsequent assault. By fully or partially acquitting the perpetrators of crimes against LGBTQ+ victims, these defenses imply that LGBTQ+ lives are worth less than others. Equality California sponsored and passed the first state law banning these defenses with then-Attorney General Kamala Harris and Assemblymember Susan Bonilla in 2014. Our Nevada-based program Silver State Equality helped to pass a similar state law banning these defenses in 2019.
This bill would make it easier to hold police officers accountable through criminal charges and civil penalties; ban chokeholds and carotid holds at the federal level and incentivize state and local bans; ban no-knock warrants in drug-related cases, like the one that resulted in the murder of Breonna Taylor; create a national registry to track police misconduct and abuse; mandate training on racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling for all law enforcement; require law enforcement to collect data on all investigatory activities; require that deadly force be used only as a last resort and require officers to employ de-escalation techniques first; limit the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement; require federal uniformed police officers to wear body cameras and marked federal police vehicles to have dashboard cameras. It would also grant the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division subpoena power and help state attorneys general investigate problematic police departments. And the bill would establish public safety innovation grants to help communities to develop concrete, just and equitable public safety approaches.
Status: Passed by the House 236-181 with bipartisan support.
This bill would make lynching a federal hate crime and therefore eligible for the additional federal tools and resources used to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. The legislation is named after Emmett Till, a Black 14-year-old boy who was lynched — kidnapped, brutally beaten and shot to death — in Mississippi in 1955 after he was accused of whistling at a White woman in the grocery store.
Status: Passed unanimously by the Senate on February 14, 2019. Passed by the House 410-4 on February 26, 2020. Because of minor differences between the two versions, H.R. 35 must be passed by the Senate before it is sent to the president’s desk.
This bill would require private and public companies selling life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance plans to cover pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), with no out-of-pocket costs for patients. It would prohibit these companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums for people taking PrEP. It would provide grants to help physicians and other providers better understand of PrEP and the recommended clinical practices. And it would fund a public education campaign to reduce disparities in access to and use of PrEP through education—particularly in high-need communities in which PrEP is underutilized—about the safety and efficacy of the drug and to combat stigma surrounding PrEP usage.
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for equal treatment of same sex married couples. It permits such couples to amend their filing status to married filing jointly for tax returns outside of the statute of limitations and modifies tax rules relating to married couples to include same sex couples.
Status: Passed in the House and introduced in the Senate.
This proposal would restore abortion coverage to women who receive health care or insurance through the federal government by repealing the “Hyde Amendment,” and would prohibit state or local governments from restricting coverage of abortion by private health insurance plans.
WHPA would protect health care providers’ ability to deliver abortion services free from medically unnecessary and onerous restrictions, such as needless waiting periods, burdensome admitting privilege requirements for providers, or unnecessary medical procedures, like ultrasounds.
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate
This proposal would allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency in the United States.
A top priority for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the For the People Act will protect voting rights, reduce the influence of big money in politics and strengthen ethics rules for federal officials.
Status: Passed by the House 234-193. Awaiting consideration by the Senate.
Co-sponsored by nearly every member of California’s Congressional Delegation, the commonsense Bipartisan Background Checks Act will require background checks on all firearm sales, helping to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and closing the dangerous loopholes that currently allow the no-questions-asked sale of weapons at gun shows and online. Enacting gun safety reforms at the federal level is a top priority for Equality California. LGBTQ people and our allies are often the targets of bias-motivated gun violence.
Status: Passed by the House 240-190. Introduced in the Senate.
This bipartisan proposal would protect the rights of qualified transgender servicemembers to enlist and serve openly in the military.
This non-binding resolution expresses opposition to President Trump’s transgender military ban and urges the Department of Defense not to move forward with its implementation and to instead maintain an inclusive policy allowing qualified transgender servicemembers to enlist and serve openly in the military.
Status: Passed by the House 238-185.
The Do No Harm Act will clarify that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993’s original intent was to protect religious exercise but could not be used to violate civil rights by using the justification of religious exemptions.
This bill would direct the Federal Trade Commission to treat the advertising of so-called “conversion therapy” as a fraudulent medical practice. In 2012, Congressman Lieu authored SB 1172, sponsored by Equality California, which became the first statewide law to protect LGBTQ minors from so-called “conversion therapy.” Since that time, 18 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico have enacted similar bans.
Status: Introduced in the House.
This proposal would amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit payments under the Medicaid program for the dangerous, discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” Such practices don’t work, aren’t needed and cause lifelong psychological harm.
This bipartisan bill gives states additional funding to prosecute sexual and domestic violence offenders and enables states to qualify for money to provide critical services to victims who are members of groups that are disproportionately targeted, including Native Americans, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community. The bill also reauthorizes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, providing critical support for victims of human trafficking and helping to bring those responsible to justice.
Status: Passed by the House 263-158.
This LGBTQ+ inclusive bill would prohibit racial profiling, mandate federal law enforcement training, data collection and condition funding for federal, state and local governments on the adoption of policies that prohibit racial profiling. It would also provide grants for best policing practices and require the U.S. Attorney General to provide periodic reports on any ongoing discriminatory profiling practices.
Across the country, police officers continue to escape accountability when they break the law, shielded from liability by the doctrine of qualified immunity. This bill would explicitly state that the qualified immunity doctrine invented by the U.S. Supreme Court does not provide police officers that brutalize or otherwise violate civil rights with defense or immunity from civil liability for their actions.
This resolution urges the U.S. Department of Justice to cease its efforts to undermine the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). It also urges the Department of Justice to reverse its position in Texas v. United States, a lawsuit brought by 18 Republican state attorneys general and two Republican governors seeking to render the entire law unconstitutional. The Department of Justice has refused to defend the constitutionality of the ACA in court and has submitted briefs in support of a federal judge’s ruling that the entire law is unconstitutional, including critical protections for people with pre-existing conditions, the expansion of Medicaid and other provisions that help provide access to quality healthcare.
Status: Passed by the House 240-186.
The Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act would designate LGBTQ older people and seniors living with HIV as a group of “greatest social need” target population under the federal Older Americans Act — the nation’s primary vehicle for the organization and delivery of social and nutritional programs for older people, such as Meals on Wheels. It also would require data collection regarding LGBTQ seniors and permanently reauthorize the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the country’s only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and support for LGBTQ seniors.
This proposal would amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health and a rural outreach grant program.
This bipartisan proposal would create and expand services to address sexual healthcare for older Americans and the diverse needs of LGBTQ older people, in particular. The bill would establish a federal Office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health in the Administration on Aging and reauthorize the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the country’s only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and support for LGBTQ seniors.
This proposal would amend the Jury Selection and Services Act to provide explicit protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the process of federal jury selection — helping to ensure that both plaintiffs and defendants have access to a fair trial by a jury of their peers. Federal law prohibits discrimination in service on a federal jury based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin and economic status, but does not explicitly prohibit attorneys from discriminating against people because of their stated or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
This proposal would reinstate U.S. leadership in protection and promoting LGBTI rights around the world by codifying Obama Administration tools (issuing LGBTI-specific human rights reports, an interagency focus group on LGBTI issues, and appointing a Special Envoy for LGBTI Human Rights) ; Using existing sanctions to punish countries that abuse LGBTI people; Ensuring that U.S. foreign assistance and global health programs are inclusive of LGBTI populations; Decriminalizing LGBTI status, conduct, or expression in rule-of-law programs; and Ensuring fair access to asylum and refugee programs for LGBTI people who face persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Status: Introduced in the House
This proposal would direct the Department of State to create a permanent “Special Envoy on the Human Rights of LGBTI People” position to coordinate all federal programs for the defense of human rights for the LGBTQ community internationally and to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against LGBTQ people around the world.
These bicameral, bipartisan bills would authorize $750 million in grants annually for the next five years for local governments to combat homelessness. For the first time, it would condition federal funds on a grant recipient’s ability to provide not only housing, but also comprehensive services like mental healthcare, substance abuse treatment and job training.
This proposal would block the “Citizenship Question” from appearing on the 2020 Census and mandate a three-year review process for each question proposed to the decennial census so that all lines of inquiry undergo proper vetting and testing before being added to the Census.
This bill seeks to limit presidential power and increase accountability under the Immigration and Nationality Act by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion and national origin whenever a president suspends the entry of individuals into the United States.
This proposal would reduce family immigration visa backlogs and promote humane and timely reunification of immigrant families by recapturing unused visas lost over the past two decades, increases per-country limits, increase the number of diversity visas, and prevent children from aging out and losing their place in line due to bureaucratic delays. The LGBTQ-inclusive bill would help same-sex and interfaith bi-national couples where one individual lives in a country that does not recognize their marriage by allowing refugees and asylum seekers who are unable to marry in their home countries to be resettled together and allows partners of asylum grantees to join them in the U.S. It also extends acquired automatic citizenship to children with at least one U.S. citizen parent, regardless of a biological relationship to that parent. This provision applies to children born through Assisted Reproductive Technology and children adopted within the first year of their life.
This proposal would restore funding for Affordable Care Act education, marketing, and outreach efforts so that providers and navigators can educate Americans about open enrollment dates, coverage options, and financial support available to the public.
Status: Passed the House by 234-183. Awaiting consideration by the Senate.
This proposal would ensure that the Trump administration fully funds outreach, marketing and education efforts to promote health insurance coverage offered on the federal Health Insurance Marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.
This proposal seeks to block the Trump Administration from allowing insurance companies to sell junk healthcare policies by prohibiting the implementation of the Trump Administration’s 1332 waivers to Affordable Care Act requirements.
Status: Passed by the House 230-183. Awaiting consideration by the Senate.
This proposal would prohibit any federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood or any Planned Parenthood Federation of America affiliate for one year, unless it certifies that no abortions will be performed (except in the cases of rape, incest or to prevent the death of the mother) and redirect the funds to Community Health Centers.
AB 493 will require the California Department of Education to develop resources and a model training for school districts to provide teachers and staff with the tools they need — and want — to support LGBTQ students who may be facing harassment or lack of acceptance at school, rejection at home or discrimination in the broader community. LGBTQ students have higher dropout rates than their non-LGBTQ peers and continue to report missing school because of safety concerns at higher rates than non-LGBTQ students. Public school teachers and staff are on the front lines of providing a safety net against the effects of discrimination and lack of acceptance for the LGBTQ community, which can result in higher dropout rates, lower economic success and a number of other disparities in health and well-being that LGBTQ people continue to face. If LGBTQ students have support in school, their likelihood of overcoming these disparities and succeeding in school and life increases significantly. Equality California is cosponsoring AB 493 along with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 12, 2019.
SB 159 will reduce barriers to accessing HIV preventative medications. This legislation will authorize pharmacists to furnish pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to patients without a prescription. Pharmacists are already authorized to furnish birth control pills without a prescription. The legislation will also prohibit insurance companies from requiring patients to obtain prior authorization before using their insurance benefits to obtain PrEP or PEP. Equality California is cosponsoring SB 159 along with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, California Pharmacists Association and California Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 7, 2019.
SB 495 will add language to the California Family Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity of a parent, legal guardian or relative when granting custody of a child. While there are examples of California case law to the effect that “sexual preference” should not affect child custody determinations, this language is outdated, unclear and has not been codified within the California Family Code. This lack of clear and comprehensive policy allows local Family Court mediators, investigators, and judges to make recommendations and rulings based on their own biases about how sexuality and gender may impact the “well-being of the child.” All parents deserve the right to be considered in matters of custody without their sexual orientation or gender identity being used against them. Equality California is cosponsoring SB 495 with the Women’s Policy Institute and the Long Beach Bar Association.
AB 711 will ensure that local educational agencies in California update the records of former students who identify as transgender, making certain that their legal name and gender are accurately reflected on critical documents like high school diplomas and school transcripts. This includes reissuing high school diplomas and high school equivalency certificates, as needed. This bill seeks to close a gap in current law to ensure that all transgender people who have attended California educational institutions have the same rights and protections. Equality California is cosponsoring AB 711 with Transgender Law Center.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Newsom on August 30, 2019.
AB 785 will streamline the transfer of important donor medical history information for families and donor-conceived individuals. This legislation also aligns the existing state codes to match the federal Food and Drug Administration’s regulations for tissue transfers.
SB 145 will address the state’s discriminatory practice of treating LGBTQ young people differently than their non-LGBTQ peers when engaging in voluntary sexual activity. Currently, for example, if an 18-year-old boy has voluntary sex with his 17-year-old girlfriend, he isn’t automatically required to register as a sex offender. But if an 18-year-old boy has voluntary sex with his 17-year-old boyfriend or an 18-year-old girl has voluntary sex with her 17-year-old girlfriend, they’re automatically required to register as sex offenders, no matter the circumstances. SB 145 only applies when a teenager age 14 or older has consensual sex with a partner who is within 10 years of age. Equality California is cosponsoring SB 145 along with Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey.
Status: Passed by the Senate 25-3. Passed by the Assembly Committee on Public Safety 6-2. Converted to a two-year bill by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, to be considered in 2020.
Status: Testimony heard by the Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development on Monday, April 1. Converted to a two-year bill, to be considered in 2020.
Status: Passed by the Senate 29-8 with bipartisan support. Passed by the Assembly Committee on Public Safety 5-1. Passed by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations 11-5. Converted to a two-year bill, to be considered in 2020.
AB 307 will require the development and administration of a grant program that would, primarily, support nonprofit organizations or continuum of care administrative entities in serving youth experiencing homelessness. Funding will go toward an array of supportive services, including rental assistance, drug abuse prevention, health care and employment assistance. All programs funded under AB 307 will be required to have the cultural competence to serve youth who identify as LGBTQ. Equality California is cosponsoring AB 307 along with the California Coalition for Youth, Tipping Point Community, John Burton Advocates for Youth, Housing CA and Corporation for Supportive Housing.
Status: Passed by the Assembly 74-0 with bipartisan support. Passed by the Senate Committee on Human Services 6-0 with bipartisan support. Passed by the Senate Committee on Housing 10-0 with bipartisan support. Held by the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Status: Passed by the Senate 30-8 with bipartisan support. Passed by the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary 9-2. Referred to the Committee on Health. Converted to a two-year bill, to be considered in 2020.
AB 650 will enhance data available regarding the LGBTQ community. Research suggests that LGBTQ people are at much higher risk of becoming victims of violent crimes than non-LGBTQ people, and multiple studies — including studies by our cosponsor the Trevor Project — have shown that LGBTQ adolescents are at three times the risk of suicide as their non-LGBTQ peers. Accurate and comprehensive mortality statistics can inform policy to reduce preventable deaths and improve quality of life for all LGBTQ people. Equality California is cosponsoring AB 650 with the Trevor Project.
Status: Passed by the Assembly Committee on Health 15-0 and the Assembly Committee on Public Safety 8-0. Held by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
AB 758 will strengthen California’s equal pay laws by requiring that employees of all genders are paid equitably to their counterparts for substantially similar work. This bill will also address unjustified workplace pay differentials for employees who do not conform to the gender binary. California’s Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying an employee less than an employee of “the opposite sex” for substantially similar work. AB 758 will update the California Equal Pay Act’s outdated binary language to align with the Gender Recognition Act of 2017 (SB 179, Atkins), which enabled Californians to obtain state issued identity documents that reflect their gender identity by creating a third, nonbinary gender marker.
Status: Passed by the Assembly Committee on Labor & Employment 7-0 and the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary 9-2. Held by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
ACR 27 honors the legacy of civil rights, labor and LGBTQ leader Bayard Rustin. Born on March 17, 1912 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Rustin dedicated his entire life to advancing justice and dignity for all. He was a close advisor to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., organized the historic 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and promoted equity through nonviolent protests. An openly gay African American, Rustin understood the intricate intersections of marginalized identities and fought tirelessly for progress and opportunity. His extraordinary efforts promoted unity and transformed the landscape of activism.
Status: Adopted by the Legislature on March 19, 2019.
Introduced by members of the Legislative LGBT Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus, HR 12 and SR 15 proclaimed February 7, 2019 as Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in California in order to encourage greater awareness, education, community engagement, and treatment. Equality California cosponsored HR 12 and SR 15 with the California State NAACP.
Status: HR 12 adopted by the Assembly and SR 15 adopted by the Senate on February 7, 2019.
Equality California sponsored the following state legislation in 2018:
Child welfare agencies are required to assess the health needs of all young people in foster care, and to ensure they receive appropriate and timely care to address the needs identified by qualified professionals. This bill makes clear that, to meet this obligation for transgender and gender nonconforming youth, child welfare agencies must ensure access to clinicians who provide gender-affirming treatment consistent with established standards of care. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill along with the ACLU of California, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Lambda Legal, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 14, 2018.
LGBTQ people face higher rates of hate crimes and incidents, bias-based violence, harassment at the hands of law enforcement, and discrimination within the criminal justice system compared to the general population. AB 2504 requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (CPOST) to develop LGBTQ-specific training for peace officers and dispatchers. Improving peace officers’ ability to communicate with and serve members of the LGBTQ community will assist them in responding appropriately to situations that involve LGBTQ people, with understanding and acceptance. AB 2504 will not only educate peace officers about the LGBTQ community and build more inclusive working environments, it will create new opportunities for dialog between law enforcement officers and the marginalized communities they serve.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 30, 2018.
Four out of ten young people experiencing homelessness in California’s major cities identify as LGBTQ. SB 918 will help provide resources for housing, services and supports for youth experiencing homelessness and tasks the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (Council) with oversight. Under SB 918, the Council will be responsible for setting statewide goals and outcome measures and evaluating the effectiveness of programs in reaching those goals to meet the needs of young people experiencing homelessness. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with California Coalition for Youth, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Housing California, John Burton Advocates for Youth, and Tipping Point.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 27, 2018.
AB 2490 eliminates fees charged to people experiencing homelessness seeking to obtain certified birth certificates directly from the state. Many Californians experiencing homelessness live in counties that are not the county of their birth, and some may be unsure of their county of birth. LGBTQ young people experiencing homelessness in particular often travel to major California cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles to find acceptance, which could be a long distance from their county of birth. For some of these individuals, communicating with or even locating their county of birth to request a birth certificate is a significant hurdle. LGBTQ young people are particularly likely to be experiencing homelessness as a result of family rejection, which can make it unsafe for them to return to their former homes to gain access to their identifying documents.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 19, 2018.
This bill requires jail and prison employees to refer to transgender individuals by their preferred gender pronouns and names, and ensures that transgender people placed in solitary confinement for their own protection have access to programming, services, and work opportunities despite being in solitary confinement or otherwise separated from the general population. Transgender women, in particular, are often housed in male prison facilities and thus at great risk of victimization. They are frequently placed in solitary confinement, not for any transgression but rather for their own safety, and thus deprived of access to various prison services and work opportunities. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with the ACLU of California and Lambda Legal.
Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
This bill will ensure that LGBTQ older adults are recognized as a population in need of special attention, and that they can access the services and support they need to maintain their health and live their lives with dignity. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with SAGE.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on August 24, 2018.
This bill requires schools to review and, if necessary, update their student suicide prevention policies at a minimum of every five years. These policies already need to include a focus on high-risk populations, including LGBTQ youth, under existing law. AB 2639 will ensure that these policies are reviewed regularly and kept up-to-date. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with the Trevor Project.
A previous version of this bill would have established standards for online training on suicide prevention for teachers and school staff to prepare them to assist young people when they need support most. That legislative language was successfully incorporated into California’s 2018-19 budget, which Governor Brown signed on June 27, 2018
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 17, 2018.
AB 2291 requires public schools to provide online training annually on the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying to teachers and school staff. It would also require the California Department of Education to post this online training module along with other available online trainings to its internet website. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with the Advancement Project California, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – California, and Council on American-Islamic Relations, California.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 18, 2018.
The LGBTQ Family Law Modernization Act of 2018 would modernize and eliminate significant inequalities in California family law to ensure that LGBTQ parents and their children have access to the same protections as any other families. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 28, 2018.
This bill would provide retroactive relief to individuals who were registered as domestic partners in municipal jurisdictions and may have had their property taxes increased due to the death of a partner. AB 2663 seeks to bring equity to locally registered domestic partners who may not have registered with the state during a certain time period and ensure they can continue to afford their homes.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on September 29, 2018.
AB 1985 will help empower local communities to reduce rates of hate crimes. This bill provides guidance for local law enforcement agencies to update and strengthen their policies on hate crimes, focusing on recognizing hate crimes when they have occurred, engaging in appropriate response given the targeted community and the broader community, and fostering a community environment that prevents future hate crimes and incidents from occurring. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy in California.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Brown on June 13, 2018.
Private professional fiduciaries provide critical services to older adults and people with disabilities, including daily care, housing and medical needs, and financial management services ranging from basic bill payments to estate and investment management. This bill will give professional fiduciaries the training they need to provide culturally competent services for their LGBTQ clients.
Status: Vetoed by Governor Brown on September 22, 2018.
This bill will provide California schools with resources to support LGBTQ students and create safer school environments. LGBTQ students have higher dropout rates than their non-LGBTQ peers and continue to report missing school because of safety concerns at higher rates than non-LGBTQ students. This legislation will give teachers and school staff the training they need to provide culturally competent support for students who may be facing harassment or lack of acceptance at school, rejection at home, or discrimination in the broader community. Schools are on the front line of providing a safety net against the effects of discrimination and lack of acceptance for the LGBTQ community, which can result in higher dropout rates, lower economic success, higher rates of homelessness, higher rates of substance abuse and suicide, and all the disparities in health and well-being that LGBTQ people face. If LGBTQ students have support in school, their likelihood of overcoming these disparities and succeeding later in life increases significantly.
Status: Vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown on September 30, 2018.
For far too long, LGBTQ people have suffered psychological abuse by those who are entrusted to care for their emotional and psychological well-being. These dangerous practices, often referred to as “conversion therapy,” have no sound scientific basis and can cause lifelong damage. This bill would make clear in California statute that claiming to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is a fraudulent business practice that misleads consumers and exposes LGBTQ people to damaging psychological abuse. Equality California is cosponsoring this bill with the Trevor Project.
Status: Passed by the Assembly and Senate. Held in the Assembly prior to concurrence vote.
For more information about AB 2943 — including a list of supporters and frequently asked questions — please visit eqca.org/AB2943.
This resolution calls upon the medical community to discontinue medically unnecessary, nonconsensual, and often irreparably harmful sex assignment and genital “normalization” surgeries on intersex infants at birth. Instead, an intersex individual should decide for themselves whether to pursue surgery at all, at an age when informed consent is possible. Equality California is cosponsoring this resolution with interACT.
Status: Adopted by the Legislature on August 28, 2018.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an antiretroviral medication that has been shown to be safe and effective in reducing the risk of acquiring HIV among people who are at high risk of acquiring the virus. PrEP is estimated to be over 90 percent effective at preventing HIV infection, but only about 12 percent of the 1.2 million Americans at high risk for HIV exposure are using PrEP. This resolution recognizes August 16, 2018, as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Awareness Day in California to enhance public awareness of PrEP and PEP.
Status: Adopted by the Legislature on August 23, 2018.
This resolution designates the month of May as National Foster Care Month in the State of California and calls on all Californians to observe the month by recognizing the extraordinary role that LGBTQ parents play in the foster care system, as well as the unique challenges confronting LGBTQ foster youth. Equality California is cosponsoring SCR 137 with Family Equality Council.
Status: Adopted by the Legislature on May 29, 2018.
Throughout his career, Secretary Pompeo has been a staunch opponent of LGBTQ equality, opposing the Violence Against Women Act and the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and cosponsoring multiple bills during his service in the U.S. House of Representatives that would have slowed the spread of marriage equality and provided a ‘license to discriminate’ against the LGBTQ community. He refused to disavow those positions during his Senate confirmation hearing, making it clear that he was unfit to advocate for the United States’ key role as a vocal proponent of LGBTQ human rights around the world — in an Administration that has sought to scale back our moral leadership in the advancement of human rights.
Status: Confirmed.
Even before credible allegations of sexual misconduct and assault were made against then-Judge Kavanaugh, Equality California strongly opposed his nomination to the Supreme Court on the basis of his judicial record, in which he demonstrated hostility to the Affordable Care Act, reproductive freedom, common-sense gun safety laws and hard-won legal protections for LGBTQ people and the diverse communities to which we belong. Equality California ramped up our opposition to Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination in the wake of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s decision to come forward and share her story with the nation, as his confirmation was inconsistent with our commitment to ending our societal culture of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct.
The Equality Act would provide federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ people across the country. Specifically, the Equality Act would have amended existing federal civil rights laws — including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Jury Selection and Services Act — to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill also would have amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex.
Status: H.R. 2282 referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. S. 1006 read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This bipartisan proposal would give immigrants who arrived in the United States before their 18th birthday and before Dec 31, 2016, an opportunity to apply for permanent legal status if they meet certain requirements.
Status: H.R. 3440 referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. S. 1615 read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This proposal would have directed the Federal Trade Commission to treat the advertising of so-called “conversion therapy” as a fraudulent medical practice. In 2012, Congressman Lieu authored SB 1172, sponsored by Equality California, which became the first statewide law to protect LGBTQ minors from so-called “conversion therapy.” Since that time, six additional states and several municipalities have enacted similar bans.
Status: H.R. 2119 referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection. S. 928 read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
This proposal would have clarified that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993’s original intent was to protect religious exercise but could not be used to violate civil rights by using the justification of religious exemptions.
Status: H.R. 3222 referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. S. 2918 read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This proposal would have explicitly prohibited public schools from discriminating against any student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It also would have protected students who associate with LGBTQ people, including students with LGBTQ parents or friends.
Status: H.R. 5374 referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. S. 2584 read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
This proposal would have required schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying and harassment policies that ensure the safety and well-being of all their students, including youth who are bullied or harassed on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Status: H.R. 1957 referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. S. 2572 read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
This proposal would have reduced ethnic and racial disparities in access to healthcare and outcomes and is powerfully “holistic” in that it includes sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, language, immigration status, age, disability, and socio-economic status.
Status: H.R. 5942 referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, the Budget, the Judiciary, Veterans’ Affairs, Armed Services, and Natural Resources. S. 3660 read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
This proposal would have prohibited any entity that receives federal child welfare funds from discriminating against prospective adoptive or foster parents on the bases of their sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status, or on the bases of the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child involved.
Status: H.R. 2640 referred to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources. S. 1303 read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
This proposal would have ensured that the U.S. Census Bureau has the funding necessary to conduct a fair, accurate and constitutionally mandated decennial census.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
This proposal would have repealed existing policies that encourage and allow discrimination against people living with HIV. It also would have directed the U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services and Defense to initiate a national review of federal and state laws, policies, regulations and judicial precedents and decisions regarding criminal and related civil commitment cases involving people living with HIV.
Status: H.R. 1739 referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Armed Services. S. 2186 read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This proposal would have sought to eliminate law enforcement profiling on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Status: H.R. 1498 referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittees on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations and on the Constitution and Civil Justice. S. 411 read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
All 2017 Legislation
EQCA took the following positions on federal legislation and nominations in 2017:
When appointed by President Trump to serve as U.S. Attorney General, then-Senator Jeff Sessions already had a long, well-documented history of opposing civil rights for LGBTQ people, women, immigrants and communities of color. He was a co-sponsor of the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act,” which would have given businesses, landlords and even government agencies a “license to discriminate” against LGBTQ people based on their own personal beliefs. He was a longtime supporter of efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban marriage equality, opposed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and lead the fight against federal legislation to protect LGBTQ people from hate crimes. He has repeatedly opposed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and famously called a Black attorney “boy” and suggested that a white attorney representing black clients was a “race traitor” — comments that disqualified him from serving as a federal judge in 1986. Equality California joined every major civil rights, reproductive rights and LGBTQ organization in the country in opposing Sessions’ confirmation.
Then-Judge Gorsuch first gained national attention for his opinions in two federal cases in which he supported an employer’s right to refuse to pay for reproductive healthcare as part of employee health coverage if doing so violated the employer’s own personal beliefs. Such judicial opinions represent a clear and immediate threat to LGBTQ civil rights and social justice. Additionally, Gorsuch was a strong opponent of workers’ rights and the rights of people with disabilities. For all of these reasons and more, Equality California strongly opposed Gorsuch’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This bill would have repealed key elements of the Affordable Care Act, a program that has provided affordable, robust healthcare coverage for millions of LGBTQ Californians, and made it possible for many to receive healthcare insurance or the first time. This Republican-led bill would also have stripped federal funding for Planned Parenthood, a vital program that provides healthcare services for millions of LGBTQ people across the country.
Status: Passed in the House 217-213 but failed in the Senate 49-51.
This virulently anti-trans amendment to the annual defense appropriations bill would have prohibited military funds being used for transgender servicemembers needing medical treatment related to gender transition, including hormone therapy.
Status: Failed in the House 209-214.
This bipartisan proposal would give immigrants who arrived in the United States before their 18th birthday and before Dec 31, 2016, an opportunity to apply for permanent legal status if they meet certain requirements. The Trump-Pence Administration has sought to cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, putting millions of LGBTQ immigrants across California and the United States — immigrants who attend school here, work here and pay taxes here — at risk. Of the 200,000 DACA recipients in the State of California, Equality California estimates that as many as 20,000 identify as LGBTQ.
All 2016 Legislation
All 2015 Legislation
AB 1951, authored by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez, would modernize California birth certificates by allowing parents to choose to self-designate as “father,” “mother” or “parent,” eliminating inaccurate designations and confusion for same-sex parents.
AB 2501, authored by Assemblymember Susan Bonilla, would eliminate the so-called “gay panic” and “trans panic” defenses, outrageous tactics used by defendants who claim their violent acts were triggered by the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
SB 840, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara, moves forward on recommendations from 2013’s statewide audit on school safety and nondiscrimination laws, to hold schools accountable for documenting responses to bullying and referring students to appropriate services.
SB 323 ensures nonprofit youth organizations that receive special state tax privileges comply with California’s nondiscrimination laws. Specifically, this bill revokes the special tax status rewarded to nonprofit youth organizations should they violate our state’s nondiscrimination laws.
SB 1306, authored by Senator Mark Leno, brings California statutory law into line with last June’s Supreme Court decision restoring the freedom to marry in California. References to “husband” and “wife” would be replaced with gender-neutral language such as “spouse” to recognize all married couples throughout California code.
Assembly Bill 496 clarifies that existing cultural competency training for health care providers should include discussion of LGBT issues. Also appoints a representative of the LGBT community to an existing task force on cultural competency for health care providers.
AB 1577, the Respect After Death Act, authored by Assemblymember Toni Atkins, would make sure death certificates for transgender Californians accurately reflect their authentic, lived identity.
Clarifies that nonprofit youth organizations will only be rewarded with special tax exemptions if they comply with California’s existing nondiscrimination laws.
AB 1266 addresses the exclusion of transgender students from classes and activities, and clarifies existing anti-discrimination law to provide clear protections to transgender students.
Provides an exemption from state taxes for additional income an employer provides to an employee to make up for federal taxes the employee would otherwise pay to add a registered domestic partner or same-sex spouse (and/or their dependents) to insurance plans.
Simplifies the process required for a name change to reflect a person’s gender identity, as well as ensuring that a person’s identity documents reflect his or her gender identity accurately, particularly death certificates.
Clarifies that existing cultural competency training for health care providers should include discussion of LGBT issues. Also appoints an representative of the LGBT community to an existing task force on cultural competency for health care providers.
Ensures that administrators of residential care facilities have an additional five hours of training in cultural competency and sensitivity in aging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.
Ensures that the LGBT community is counted in California through health insurance eligibility application forms, which is an important step toward reducing the disparities the LGBT community faces in access to and quality of health services.
Urges the federal government to act on this issue, and serve as an example for other states to follow as we continue to champion support for veterans’ rights.
Urges CalPERS and CalSTRS not to invest future resources from their pension plans in Russia.
For decades, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people—particularly youth—have suffered psychological abuse by those who are entrusted to care for their emotional and psychological well-being. It’s long past time to do everything in our power to put an end to the use of tactics that have no sound scientific basis and that cause lifelong damage.
Few things are more devastating to a child than being removed from his or her parents. Yet, for LGBT youth in foster care, this devastation is often compounded by placements in foster homes that are at best ill-equipped to care for LGBT kids or at worst hostile to LGBT people. AB 1856 will help to provide comfort, safety and support to LGBT foster youth by creating LGBT cultural competency standards that foster homes housing LGBT youth must meet.
For years, EQCA and our partners have worked to advance policies to make LGBT youth safer and better supported at school. Some schools have done a laudable job implementing these policies and protecting LGBT youth. Others have failed to do the job. This request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee asks the state auditor to conduct a review of all school districts across the state and evaluate the degree to which they are complying with existing laws that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students from discrimination and harassment.
Under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, LGB service members and their families made tremendous sacrifices, but without the support and recognition afforded to the families of other service members. AB 1505 (Pan) will guarantee that all California service members who were discharged from the military for no reason other than their sexual orientation are eligible for all state benefits for veterans and their families such as home loans, college tuition fee waivers and preference for civil service examinations.
The death of a lifelong partner is traumatic. But under current law, that trauma can be worsened by property tax penalties that apply unequally to same-sex partners, especially impacting LGBT seniors. AB 1700 (Butler) will ensure that no LGBT person is put at risk of losing the home that he or she has built over a lifetime with a loved one.
For many loving, committed couples, having a child and building a family is one of the most important and fundamental keys to happiness. Unfortunately, same-sex couples face many barriers in forming families—including unequal access to fertility health care. AB 2356 (Skinner) will ensure that women in same-sex relationships can access fertility services on the same terms as women in opposite-sex relationships.
As we continue our efforts to achieve full equality, we must remove every possible barrier to securing the freedom to marry, including the false claim made by anti-equality advocates in California and elsewhere that allowing loving same-sex couples to marry will force clergy or places of worship to compromise their religious beliefs. As we anticipate the restoration of the freedom to marry in our state, SB 1140 (Leno) reaffirms the principles of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with respect to the freedom of clergy to make faith-based decisions regarding which marriages they solemnize.
